First Thanksgiving
The first Thanksgiving, it was such a day in American history and it still shows richly in the United State's culture. Thanksgiving was first started out in 1621, where the Plymouth settlers and Wampanoag Native Americans shared together a meal, brought together by good food, and the understanding that we all as humans, can get along in any culture and race.
How many people attended the first Thanksgiving? Well, it was probably only close to around fifty or even less, as opposed to how some paintings make it out close to one hundred colonists and Native Americans. But what about the food? Did they share each others culture? Absolutely. The Indians decided to go out and catch eels for their gifted meal along with picking out corn from the harvests. The colonists went out to hunt wild turkeys and the women went out to pick berries and nuts and the like.
Venison was on the menu, as was probably chicken, some scholars believe. About three or so deer were also killed for the occasion by the Native Americans, as well as much from their plantation besides corn, like cabbage, radish, etc. The pilgrims decided to show more gratitude by going out in close hatch boats by the lake and hunting for lobster and even swans! There is even an account of the pilgrim settlers hunting for seal, but it is unknown whether or not this had made its way on the Thanksgiving menu.
It was not possible to have any cakes, pies, or even breads, since the pilgrims were quite limited in their food sources and much had spoiled. The Indians had supplied cornbread, a new way of cooking to the pilgrims which they gladly accepted. There was much more meat than vegetables at the table, including not just turkey, deer, fowl, and swan, but also amounts of fish served by the Indians.
Rabbit was also served along side hickory nuts, onions, and green beans. There was not much dairy at the dinner table, the only thing that both sides had to offer was goat cheese. A stew of mixed vegetables was also kindly offered and accepted around the table. There was not much as there is by today's standards of Thanksgiving, but this was the first in history, showing a great feast with two cultures coming together, and we only add on to it by making it a family tradition and creating such a wonderful feast our forefathers could only dream of.
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